Protective eyeshield



March 1952 H. M. RICHARDSON ETAL 2,589,575

PROTECTIVE EYESHIELD Filed March 3, 1948 INVENTORS BY W'sLfril/msofi 9 W141, ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 18, 1952 PROTECTIVE EYESHIELD Henry M. Richardson and Wesley S. Larson,

Springfield, Mass., assignors to De Bell & Richardson, Inc., Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March s, 1948, Serial No. 12,734

This'invention relates used to protect the eyes of industrial workers, combat soldiers, and others from dust, and other foreign matter.

Eye shields heretofore available for the above purposes have been bulky and cumbersome, could not be comfortably worn over the usual prescription eye glasses, and, because of the materials employed, were subject to deterioration with age and to attack by fungi. It is highly desirable that shields of this type be sufficiently flexible tov fit closely around the face and forehead. To secure this advantage it has been proposed to make the protectors of sheet rubber, either natural or synthetic, and of materials such as plasticized polyvinyl chloride or polyvinyl butyral. These materials however are so non-absorbent of moisture that closely fitting protectors formed of these materials are uncomfortable and subject to fogging from perspiration. As a result either ventilation openings must be provided which destroys, at least in part, the advantages gained by a close fit, or absorbent pads must be used which adds to the bulk and stiffness of the protector and results in discomfort to the wearer.

Claims. (Cl. 2-14) to eye shields of the type The principal object of the present invention substantially full visibility in all directions, and

which can be folded flatly into pocket carrying size.

Other and further objects will be made apparent in the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an eye protector embodying our invention, unfolded in flat form;

Fig. 2 is a view of the eye protector of Fig. l folded for pocket carrying;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on line 3'-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a generally perspective view on a larger scale showing the eye protector of Fig. 1 set up for use; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing an alternative formation of the cuts 8.

We have found that a flexible polyamide can be molded in sufficiently thin cross section to give the desired structural features later pointed out and that this material will pass moisture quite readily.

A polyamide molding composition which we have found to be suitable for our purpose is one with a low modulus of elasticity (of the order of 30,000 lbs. per sq. in.), a softening point not substantially above C. and with a rather broad melting range. Polyamides of this type are made commercially from co-condensations of the following three ingredients:

1. Hexamethylene diammonium adipate, 7 2. Hexamethylene diammonium sebacate, and 3. e-Aminocaproic acid,

commercially available examples being the grades of nylon known as FM-4 or FM-8001 produced by E. I. du Pont de Nemours 8: Co., Inc.

For the lenses we use a clear film of ethylcellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate or acetate butyrate, or other transparent flexible plastic film with or without a surface coating to improve the scratch resistance. If desired the films may be tinted with a suitable pigment.

Referring to the drawings the eye shield is molded in flat thin form as generally shown in Fig. l. The shield comprises a visor member I. upper frame members 2, nose frame members 3, side members 4 and lower frame members 5. The visor member is divided centrally by a shallow channel 6 which extends downwardly between the nose frame members 3. A similar channel I intersects the channel 6 and defines the lower or forward edge of the visor member I. In addition to other functions, later described, the channels 6 and 1 quarter the shield and provide hinge lines about which the shield when in flat form may be folded as in Fig. 2 for easy carrying in a pocket.

The side edges of the visor member are extended downwardly beyond the ends of channel I in the form of cuts 8 the lower ends of. these cuts terminating closely adjacent the lens openings at a point below the level of the upper frame portions 2. The cuts 8' need not extend completely through the material as shown in Fig. 1, since for some purposes it may be desirable to connect their edges with a fine membrane of the material as indicated at 8' in Fig. 5.

The edges of the lens opening are channeled as at 9' to receive the flexible transparent lenses in which are cemented or otherwise secured in place.

The upper edge portion of the visor member is feathered to a thin edge as indicated at H and the lower edge portions of the side members 4 and of the lower frame members 5 are similarly feathered to a thin edge as indicated at [2. Preferably the body of the shield has a thickness of approximately .028 of an inch, the material being thinnedto approximately .004 of an inch When in use the fiat eye shield is setupf by swinging the side members 4 substantially 90 to bring the snap fasteners: 3Vl5: and"; I' l-IF into engagement as shownin Eigfi/l.

It will be noted that when thus set up the'edges' of the shield in contact with the face of the wearer are comprised entirely of' the feathered edge portions II and I2 which, because oftheir extreme flexibility conform to the contours of the-face of, the wearer and provide a. close dustproofffitwithout discomfort and, because of" the ability. of the material to pass moisture without danger of fogging.

The stiff visor member I holds the'lenscarrying portions rigidly away from thepfacej permittingthe wearingof prescription glassesswithin the protector without discomfort" or disarrangement of the prescription glasses. The straight channel 1 permits the frontrlensfiportion to assume a substantially vertical position with; the portions of the lenses carried" by the a l nmem ifsi .-'sharp1ybut. smoothly curved throng- Ir substantially a right angle thus securing substantially afull- 100% vision through. the hifi ld;

It ,IWiH further be noted that the relatively stiff unfeathered portions of the side members 4lun= derlietheiunfeathered end portions of the visor, thus:reenfollo ngrand stiffening the Setup structure-closelyad jacent theclosed ends of the cuts 8:withmhe resultxthat(the shaping of the shield takes; place;and:.is; concentrated about the closed endSzof said buts, as: centers. assuring ample space within the}; shield; at theouter ends. Since. the endsofgcutsriiiaboutwhich the shaping is centered are; positioned; below the groove '1 the-visor remains-relativelyifiatandthere is no objectionable conef formed' at'jthe; center of the lenses. The channel'giirpermits:aslight bowing of the-visorat itsz-center to; accommodatemovement; of the side member's :4;toward'each other as the-shield conforms itself to the contour of the face of the wearer:

ThBLGIQ'iStiGThQiDdT i8 servesto hold .-the1shield,-in postiontin an-iobv-ious and well known manner.

Whatwe claim;

l: AnLeye' shieldlconstructed in; flat unitary sheet form and: including a visor'member lens carrying" members: anct side members? extending from :the lensecarryingzmembers; thegvisor meinberbeingiseparatedfrom' the lens carryingzmembers by a channel'fformingza hinge line the -adjacent endslofgthelvisor and side membersrbeing separatedby cuts extending, below the ends of said channel; .said side 'members" being bendable through an arc of substantially 90 about: the closed-:endsof-said cuts'as centers to:- position the adjacent:portions1of: the" visor and ;end-imem;- bers: in; superposed relation; and snap fastener members carriedtfby said superposed portions of the visor. and; end: members; and engageable to releasably. hold; said. members in superposed position V V 2.; eye-i shield; constructed in 1 flatunitary carrying members and side members extending from the lens carrying members, the visor member being separated from the lens carrying members by a channel forming a hinge line, a second channel at right angles to the first channel and extending, across the visor member and between the lens carrying members forming a hinge line at'ri'ght angles to the first mentioned hinge line, the adjacent ends of the visor and side members being separated by cuts extending below the ends offsaidichannel, said side members being bendable through an arc of substantially about the; closediendsofsaid cuts as centers to position tlimadjacent portions of the visor and end membersasuperposedf relation, and snap fastener members carried by said superposed portions of the-visor andend members and engageable to releasably hold said members in superposed position.

3. An eye shield of flexible, plastic molted in a flat: unitary thin sheet form. and including a 1 visormember; lens carrying members and side memb'ersextending from the lens carrying members the visor member being separatedfromthe lens carrying members byxa channel forming a hinge;line; theadjacent ends'ofthe visor and side membersbeing separatedby cuts extending below the; endsiofsaid" channel; the'upper edge portion of. the. visor member and the lower edge portions; of. the; lens carrying. and side. members biting, feathered; said; side members being bend-.- able. through an. arc of; substantially 90 about the.,=closedfends of said cuts ascenters toposition thelunfea'therededge portions of. the side membersbeneathlthe unfeathered end portions of the visorhwitlij the ends of said feathered edge portions ofsaidvisor and side members overlapping to, form: a complete feathered edge around the shield'wliere it contacts the face of the wearer, andsnaplfastenerl members carried by the super posed. portions of the visor and. end members andlengageable. toreleasably hold said members in. superposed. position.

4;An eye shield formed of a polyamide having a low modulus of elasticity, molded in a fiat unitary thinsheet form and including a visor memberlenscarrying members and side membersex-tendingfrom-the lens carrying members, they visor; member. being separated from the lens carrying members-by a channel forming a hinge line. the adjacent ends of the visor and side members-beingseparated by cuts extending below themnd'slof'said-channel, the upper edge portion of the visor membenand the. loweredge portions of; the; lens carrying and side members being feathered; said; side members, being bendable throughean arc. of substantially 90 about the closed ends of said cuts: as centers to position the:unfeatheredxedgeportionsof the side members beneath the unfeathered end portions of the visor; witlrthe ends ofsaid feathered edge portionsrofisaidpvisor and .side members overlapping to form a complete feathered edge around the shieldzwhere' it contacts the face of the wearer, and snap fastener members carried by the superposedzportionsofthevisor and end members and engageable to releasably hold said members in superposed: position.

5-.w-A-n-eyeshieldformed of a flexible organic plastic, said plastic comprising the co-condensa- V tionproduct of'hexamethylene diammonium adipade hexamethylene.diammonium sebacate, and e-iamiznocaproic acid; molded-in a fiat unitary thin's'sheet formtandincludingv visor, lens carsheet form and including a visor member, lens frying and side forming portions, the edges of the sheet being shaped to provide a close substantially REFERENCES CITED air-tight engagement with the face of the wearer, the said sheet having a thickness of approxg g i fiig gg i fs are of lecord m the imately .028 of an inch to thereby provide a moisture vapor transmission rate through the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS plastic sheet adequateto prevent a fog producing Number Nam D t moisture accumulation within the shield in the 862,421 Tileston Aug. 6, 1907 absence of vent atin p n 890,821 Tileston June 16, 1908 HENRY M. RICHARDSON. 1,203,079 Van Antwerp Oct. 31, 1916 WESLEY S. LARSON. 10 ,5 'Schanweker NOV. 6, 1950 

